Stream degradation undermines crucial biological functions due to decreased species variation
In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, an international team of 75 scientists, led by Luz Boyero of the University of the Basque Country, Spain, and Eva Segelov of the University of Bern, have highlighted the crucial role of detritivores in the biological process of decomposition and the recycling of essential nutrients.
Detritivores, organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter, play a vital role in the natural world. However, the study suggests that the current rate of extinction for these organisms is 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than has historically occurred. This rapid decline could have dire consequences, as the study found that when detritivores were excluded, simulating extinction, there was a significant drop in decomposition rates.
The researchers incubated identical plant litter mixtures comprised of nine species collected at different locations around the world and distributed among study partners. They found that decomposition rates were highest in streams with an abundance of detritivores. The study aimed to determine whether the diversity of detritivores is crucial to this biological process.
The study involved 38 headwater streams across 23 countries on six continents. The relationship between detritivore diversity and decomposition was found to be stronger in tropical areas than in temperate areas and absent in boreal areas. In tropical areas, detritivore diversity was a major predictor of decomposition.
Decomposition is necessary for the recycling of biologically essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which are essential for life, including for humans. As detritivores go extinct, the ability to decompose and recycle these materials will be lost.
The study was funded by the Basque Government in Spain, and the DOI for the study is 10.1038/s41467-021-23930-2. Cardinale spearheaded the North American portion of the research, while Segelov, who has headed the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Bern since the end of 2022, led the study overall.
In waters with the most diversity of detritivores, including aquatic insects such as stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies, and craneflies, and crustaceans such as scuds, freshwater shrimp, and crabs, decomposition is at its highest. This research underscores the importance of preserving the diversity of detritivores to maintain healthy ecosystems and support life on Earth.
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